Marking device



July 6, 1943.;

w. M. DAVIS MARKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1943. v w. M. DAVIS 2,323,645;

MARKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 6, 1943 UNl'lED STTES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to marking and ruling devices and is more especially concerned with articles of this character designed for use on register tables, line-up tables, ruling tables, and similar equipment used in various branches of the printing trade. For convenience equipment of this nature will be hereinafter referred to as line-up tables and the marking devices will be referred to by that name or as markers, regardless of whether the marking element makes an ink or a pencil line or is of the character of a stylus to make a mark by scratching or cutting, all of the latter being herein referred to as marking tools.

A line-up table customarily carries one or more bars each mounted on a carriage so that the bar can be moved across the working area and adjusted into any desired position thereon. In the usual arrangements the marking tool also is supported on a carriage or slide mounted on the bar so that the tool moves with the slide and is guided entirely by it. While this arrangement is quite satisfactory for many purposes, it is not always sufiiciently accurate for those conditions in which a high degree of precision is required. It is one of the objects of this invention, therefore, to devise a marker and a mounting for it with which great precision will be obtainable.

In ruling negatives and working on plates, the degree of pressure applied to the marking tool sometimes is of great importance, and in prior constructions this has been entirely under the control of the operator. A further object of this invention, therefore, is to devise means whereby the pressure with which the marking tool bears on the work will be independent of the pressure applied to the instrument by the operators hand and, in addition, to make provision for adjusting the pressure of the tool to suit the requirements of different kinds of work.

The invention further is directed to the general improvement of marking devices of the character above referred to with the object of making them more convenient to use and facilitatin the attainment of extreme accuracy while relying less on the care and skill required by the workman in order to produce this result.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a marker embodying features of this invention showing it in its operative position on the ruling carriage of a line-up table;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a marker embodying this invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view longitudinally through the marker casing, most of the parts inside the casing being shown in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view approximately on the line 4-4, Fig. 3; 1

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrat ing the parts in different positions and omitting some of the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front end view of the device;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing details of the holder for the marking tool;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a pen adapted to be used instead of the tool shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a front elevation on a larger scale showing the relationship between the marking tool and the guiding roll therefor.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the marking tool, indicated in general at 2, is mounted to slide on a bar 3 which is supported by carriages (not shown) but constructed in any suitable manner, as shown for example, in Patent No. 1,601,461. Secured rigidly to the bar 3 is a straight edge 4, and one or both of these elements customarily is graduated in inches and fractions thereof, or in other units of linear measurement. The straight edge 4 is manufactured with a high degree of precision and its guiding edge a is ground very accurately so as to be as near absolutely straight as it is feasible to manufacture parts of this character. The bar itself, however, while straight within the ordinary meaning of that term does, nevertheless, have inaccuracies which would affect the accuracy of the work if this bar alone were relied upon for guiding the marking tool. This has been customary heretofore and an important feature of this invention is that while the marker provided by it utilizes the bar 3'to guide it in its traversing movement across the work, the tool itself is guided independently by the edge a of the straight edge. For convenience this edge a will be hereinafter referred to as the straight edge except where the context definitely indicates otherwise.

The marker, as shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, comprises a body 5 grooved lengthwise to provide a long slot 6, Fig. 6, adapted to receive the bar 3 snugly but with a good running clearance. A marking tool I is removably clamped in a tool holder 8 which. in

turn, is mounted in the forward end of an arm or lever II), this lever including two parts preferably connected by a screw 1), although functionally they operate as an integral arm. This lever is pivoted at l2 on another arm or lever l3 which is pivotally connected by the screw Hi to the body 5. At its forward or left-hand end, as shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the lever 13 carries a guide roll It held thereto by a screw on which it revolves, and the rearward end of this roll is bevelled, as best shown in Fig. 9, so that its lower edge can bear against the flat face of the straight edge a. A spring I5, Figs. 4 and 5, acts on the tail end of the lever 13 to hold it normally inward toward the body 5. It should also be observed that the lever l3 carries a vertically slotted post [6, best shown in Fig. 2, and that a part of the lever 10 rests in this slot. Consequently, the latter lever, which carries the tool 7, while supported to swing about the horizontal pivot [2 independently of the lever I3 is compelled to swing with the latter lever about the vertical pivot I l.

The operating element for this marker consists of a casing ll, pivoted on the body 5 at l8, and enclosing most of the operating parts of the device. It is equipped with a button 20 for the convenience of the workman and it is normally held in an elevated position by means of the spring 2| interposed between the body 5 and the casing.

Also, it carries a plunger 22, Fig. 3, backed up by a spring 23, the pressure of which may be adjusted by the screw 24 threaded into the housing 25. This housing is split, as best shown in Fig. 2,

so that it exerts sufficient frictional grip on the screw to prevent it from being accidentally turned.

In using the marker it is positioned on the guide bar 3, as shown for example in Fig. 1, the bar is adjusted into the desired position for the marking operation; the operator places his hand over the casing ll, with his fore-finger usually on the button 20, and he presses downwardly on said button until further depressing movement is stopped by the contact of the post or stop 26 with the lug 21 on the body 5. Such movement is transmitted through the spring-pressed plunger 22 tothe lever I and thence through the holder 8 to the marking tool I, but the pressure with which this tool bears on the work is controlled en tirel'yby the compression of the spring 23 and that, as above stated, can be adjusted by manipulating the screw 24. When the tool is in contact with the work the operator then moves the marker toward the right, Figs. 1 and 2, whereupon the tool marks the Work.

At the beginning of the tool depressing movement both the tool 1 and the guide roll 4 are held outwardly away from the body by the pin 28, Fig. 5, acting on the bevelled end of the lever [3; but as the forward end of the operating member I! is swung downwardly, this pin moves out of engagement with the lever, thus enabling the spring i5 to swing the guide inwardly toward the body, as shown in Fig. 4. This movement continues until the lower edge of the guide roll I 4 strikes the straight edge a; as shown in Fig. 9, and such engagement occurs before the arm [3 has completed its inward swing. As above stated, the lever it] is compelled to follow the swinging movements of the arm 13, so that during the marking operation the lateral position of the tool "I with reference to the straight edge is controlled solely by the contact of the guide roll [4 with the straight edge a, the connections between the tool and the body 5 being such as to permit the guide roll to move the tool toward or from the body, as may be necessary in order to make the tool follow the straight edge accurately. As shown in Fig. 9, the tool lies just outside the straight edge, in some fixed and predetermined spacing from said edge, and this spacing is maintained unchanged as the marking operation proceeds.

When the pressure on the button '29 is released, the spring 2| raises the casing ll, whereupon the rounded end of the pin 28 again strikes the tail end of the lever i3 and swings both the tool 1 and guide i l outwardly. This action removes both of these parts from the neighborhood in which the next marking operation is to be performed and thus enables the Workman better to see just what he is to do. A pin 50, Fig. 3, fastened in the casing I! projects under the lever H} and lifts the lever and the parts carried by it during the elevating movement of the casing under the action of the spring 2|.

Usually adjustable stops, such as those shown at 31-31, Fig. 1, are secured in suitable positions on the bar 3 to predetermine the length of the line to be drawn on the work, and the body 5 is equipped with hunters 3232 at opposite ends thereof to engage these stops.

In order to provide for the convenient adjustment and changing of the marking tools, the holder 8 is split, as shown in the drawings, and it is provided with a groove to receive a tool of the stylus type, as shown in Fig. 2, the latter being clamped securely in the holder by means of the screw 33. This holder 8 also has a split shank c, Fig. '7, extending at right angles thereto and mounted in a sleeve 34 which is releasably secured in the end of the arm [0 by means of a set screw 35. The shank c has a tapered hole, as best shown in Fig. '7, to receive the screw 35 by means of which the shank may be expanded into firm engagement with the sleeve 34. The latter is made of square cross-sectional form, except at one side where it is bevelled, as shown at d, Fig. 8, and the socket in the lever I0 is correspondingly shaped so that this sleeve can only be placed in one position, and that the correct one, in the lever. However, by loosening the screw 36 the holder 8 can be removed whenever desired and replaced by a different holder as, for example, that carrying the pen 31, as shown in Fig. 8. The split shank construction is of advantage in facilitating the angular adjustment of the tool 1 relatively to the body of the marker and in adjusting the point of the tool so that it will engage the work at a fixed distance from the stops 32.

It will thus be evident that the invention provides a marker and a cooperative relationship between a marker and a straight edge which permits marking, ruling, and registering operations to be performed with a high degree of precision and with an exceptional degree of efi'lciency. The fact, also, that the pressure with which the tool is made to bear against the work can readily be regulated and is independent oi the pressure of the operator's hand, contributes not only to speed and accuracy but also to uniformity of workmanship.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be evident that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire t claim as new is:

1. A marker comprising a body adapted to ride on a horizontal guide, a marking tool, and means cooperating with said body to support said tool in a normally elevated position but operable to depress the tool into contact with the work, said means including parts limiting the pressure of said tool against the work independently of the pressure applied through said means.

2. A marker comprising a body adapted to ride on a horizontal guide, a marking tool, means cooperating with said body to support said tool in a normally elevated position but operable to depress the tool into contact with the work, said means including an operating member, a stop for limiting the movement of said member relatively to said body, and a yielding connection through which motion of said member is transmitted to said tool.

3. A marker comprising a body adapted to ride on a horizontal guide, a marking tool, means cooperating with said body to support; said tool in a normally elevated position but operable to depress the tool into contact with the work, said means including an operating member and a spring pressed plunger through which the movement of said member is transmitted to said tool, means adjustable to vary the pressure so exerted by the plunger on the tool, and a stop for limiting the movement of said operating member in a direction to press said tool against the work.

4. A marker according to preceding claim 2, in which said operating member form an enclosure for a substantial part of said means.

5. A marker comprising a body adapted to slide on a horizontal bar and to be guided thereon, a marking tool, means cooperating with said body to support said tool in a normally elevated position but operable to depress said tool into contact with the work, a guide adapted to run against a straight edge extending along said bar in a fixed relationship thereto, and parts connecting said guide with said tool to hold the latter in a fixed and definite relationship to said edge while the tool is in marking position.

6. A marker comprising a body adapted to slide on a horizontal bar and to be guided thereon, a marking tool, means cooperating with said body to support said tool in a normally elevated position but operable to depress said tool into contact with the work, a guide adapted to run against a straight edge extending along said bar in a fixed relationship thereto, parts connecting said guide with said tool to hold the latter in a fixed and definite relationship to said edge while the tool is in marking position, and parts associated with said means to hold said guide yieldingly outward away from said edge when the tool is raised but operable to move it inwardly against said edge as the tool is lowered.

7. A marker comprising a body shaped to run on a bar and a marking tool carried by said body for movement with it along the bar but controlled as to position toward and from said body by a guide adapted to run on a straight edge positioned parallel to said bar and close beside said bar.

8. A marker comprising a body shaped to run on a bar and a marking tool carried by said body for movement with it along the bar, a guide also carried by said body to run in contact with a straight edge parallel with the bar and positioned closely beside the bar, and connections between said guide and said tool enabling the guide to make the tool follow the straight edge.

9. A marker comprising a body shaped to run on a bar and a marking tool carried by said body for movement withit along the bar, a guide also carried by said body to run in contact with a straight edge parallel with the bar and positioned closely beside the bar, and connections between said guide and said tool for causing the guide to control the lateral position of said tool with ref erence to said bar and to move it as required to cause it to follow said straight edge.

10. A marker comprising a body shaped to run on a bar and a marking tool carried by said body for movement with it along the bar, a guide also carried by said body to run in contact with a straight edge parallel With the bar and positioned closely beside the bar, a spring connected with said guide to hold it yieldingly against the straight edge, and connections between said guide, said body and said tool permitting lateral movement of said guide relatively to said body and enabling the straight edge acting on said guide to control the position of said tool as it is moved across the work with said body.

11. A marker comprising a body shaped to run on a bar and a marking tool carried by said body for movement with it along th bar, and supporting means for said tool serving to hold it normally in an elevated and outward position but operable to depress said tool into contact with the work, said means being constructed and organized to move the tool inwardly toward said body as the tool is so depressed.

12. A marker comprising a body adapted to slide on a horizontal bar, an arm mounted on said body to swing about a horizontal pivot, another arm mounted to swing about a vertical pivot, a guide mounted on the latter arm, a marking tool supported on the first mentioned arm, and connections between the two arms for causing the tool to follow the swinging movements of both arms.

13. A marker comprising a body adapted to slide on a horizontal bar, an arm mounted on said body to swing about a horizontal pivot, another arm mounted to swing about a vertical pivot, one of said arms being pivoted on the other, a spring r acting on the second arm to hold it yieldingly toward said body, a guide carried by the second arm and adapted to run on a straight edge positioned close beside said bar, connections between the two arms for causing the tool to follow the swinging movements of both arms, and a spring holding said first mentioned arm normally in an elevated position.

14. A marker comprising a body shaped to run on a bar and a marking tool carried by said body for movement with it along the bar, a guide also carried by said body to run in contact with a straight edge parallel with the bar and positioned closely beside the bar, an arm on which said tool is mounted, a second arm carrying said guide and on which the first arm is pivoted, one of said arm being mounted to swing about a horizontal axis and the other about a vertical axis, a spring acting to hold said tool normally in an elevated position, another spring serving to hold said guide normally in an inward position relatively to said body, and a hinged casing for said arms, pivoted to said body, and carrying parts to operate both of said arms.

15. A marker comprising a body shaped to run on a bar and a marking tool carried by said body for movement with it along the bar, a guide also carried by said body to run in contact with a straight edge parallel with the bar and positioned closely beside the bar, an arm on which said tool is mounted, a second arm carrying said guide and on which the first arm is pivoted, one of said arms being mounted to swing about a horizontal axis and the other about a vertical axis, a spring acting to hold said tool normally in an elevated position, another spring serving to hold said guide normally in an inward position relatively to said body, a hinged casing for said arms, pivoted to said body for up and down movement, and serving as an operating member for said tool, a spring pressed plunger interposed between said tool and said casing for transmitting downward movement of the casing to said tool carrying arm, a stop for limiting the downward movement of said casing, a part operated by said casing and acting through one of said arms to swing said guide outwardly away from said body as the tool is moved upwardly, and connections between said arms compelling the tool carrying arm to follow the swinging movements of the guide carrying arm.

16. A marker comprising a body adapted to ride on a horizontal guide, a marking tool, means cooperating with said body to support said tool in a normally elevated position but operable to depress the tool into contact with the work, said means including an operating member for the tool, a spring through which such depressing movement is transmitted to the tool to move it into contact with the work, and a stop for interrupting said movement of the operating member at an intermediate point in the range of movement of said tool and while the tool continues to move toward the work.

WILLIAM M. DAVIS. 

